Analysis of the Possibility of Copper Recovery from Flotation Stratiform Copper Ore Tailings

Abstract

ABSTRACT Flotation tailings produced at three concentrator plants operated by KGHM Polska Miedz SA (SW Poland) are all continuously deposited in the Zelazny Most Tailings Storage Facility. The aim of this study was to analyze the possibility of recovering copper from the stream of final tailings continually produced by the largest of the three KGHM concentrator plants. The tailings sample contained 0.25% of Cu and was characterized by a relatively fine grain size. The tests were performed for three narrow-range size fractions of the tailings sample: −0.040, 0.040–0.160 and +0.160 mm. The findings demonstrate that the coarse and fine fractions are the main carriers of copper-bearing minerals which can be recovered with satisfactory results, if the fractions are processed separately. The coarse grain fraction was milled and then floated in the presence of standard flotation reagents with satisfactory results. The fine fraction was floated in the presence of NaHS with a relatively good efficiency which requires further research. The presented results prove that copper losses in this material can be partially reduced already at the stage of the upgrading processes performed in the concentrator plant.